Youngsters Uncertain Glory and La Barrita experienced different outcomes at Warwick Farm, yet both might head to Queensland during the winter.
The two-year-old fillies maiden event at Warwick Farm may serve as an important form line for the Brisbane winter carnival, as the victor and the third-placed runner are both poised to travel north for superior contests.
Michael Freedman-prepared Uncertain Glory ($3.90), ridden by Tommy Berry, secured the Ranvet Plate (1000m), edging out Palmanova ($11) by a long neck, while La Barrita ($3 fav) surged late for third, just a short half-head further back.
Sired by Zoustar, Uncertain Glory was making her debut, and Berry anticipates improvement over longer distances.
“The biggest query today was the 1000 metres. She will be better at 1100 and 1200,” Berry said.
“She was just a bit impatient in the gates. She was the same at the trials and she’s not pinging the barriers, but she has got good speed after that.
She got a little bit lost at the furlong, but I loved that when Kerrin McEvoy’s filly (La Barrita) came to her outside, she really knuckled down late.”
Freedman was absent from the track, but stable rep Sophie Johnson revealed that her trainer is considering a Brisbane trip for the winner during the carnival.
“He’s got a couple of options and her owner is here and he’s quite keen on the idea of going to Queensland,” Johnson said.
Tony and Calvin McEvoy travelled La Barrita from Victoria for the midweek fixture, viewing it as a potential stepping stone to Queensland.
Although the filly fell short of victory, her effort was commendable, rallying strongly from a poor barrier position.
“She did everything but win,” Calvin McEvoy said.
“She made a couple of mistakes and from a wide barrier, it was always going to be tough if she didn’t fly the gates.
We wanted to come here as a bit of a fact finding mission, hoping she could win and get the prizemoney for the $1 million Magic Millions race. That’s going to be a bit difficult now, but she is a filly that is going to love 1200 and 1400 metres.
It’s all a bit open now, but we are going to go to Queensland.”
The Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) will be held at the Gold Coast on May 18, with the Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) at Doomben two days prior also a possible target.
Explore the Australian betting sites for the best racing betting markets ahead of these Queensland features.